How to Give a Gift Certificate

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

Give a Gift Certificate

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You need to buy a gift for an upcoming event, but you can't decide what to buy, or perhaps the recipient is particularly tough to shop for. The solution is simple: a gift certificate chosen specifically for the guest of honor.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Gift Bows
Gift Bags
Electronic Greeting Cards
Gift Certificates
Wrapping Paper
Greeting Cards
Tissue paper
Gift Ribbons

Step1

Decide on the amount you would like to spend. The beauty of a gift certificate is that there's little danger of going over your budget.

Step2

Investigate your friend or loved one's tastes. Does he or she have a favorite store? A favorite activity? Retail establishments that offer gift certificates include department stores, bookstores, sporting goods stores, garden centers and housewares stores.

Step3

Consider a service-oriented gift certificate for a facial or for a visit to a day spa (for women or men). This is the perfect gift for your overworked friends who hate to shop.

Step4

Call the store or spa in advance to make certain it offers gift certificates. If you're shopping for someone long-distance, make sure the store has a branch in the recipient's town.

Step5

Buy a large greeting card in which to put the gift certificate. Humorous cards are usually appreciated.

Step6

Wrap the card with glitzy gift wrap and a bow.

Tips & Warnings

Can't afford the DVD player that your friend has been eyeing? Assemble a group together to give a group certificate. Along with the certificate, place a magazine advertisement for a DVD player in the envelope.
An easy-to-mail gift certificate can minimize your holiday angst - especially in December. While you're at it, why not buy a few extra certificates to keep on hand for future gift-giving occasions?
Online gift certificates are also an excellent option, especially if the event is rapidly approaching. You don't have to leave the office - and neither does your recipient!
A gift certificate can seem like an impersonal gift. If you're shopping for your significant other, your mother's 60th birthday, or your best friend's wedding shower, try to put more time and thought into your present.

Comments

dawnzlight said

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on 11/11/2007 I just wrote how to give a massage gift certificate, and these are good points, even the ones left here by other commenters. It is nice to give feedback, also, a good way to get rid of gift cards that you don't enjoy or wont use, is to have a gift card exchange party, where everyone brings a gift card to the party!

Spavelous said

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on 6/24/2007 Be careful when giving a spa gift certificate. Make sure that the spa is established and has been there a long time. If the spa goes out of business you could be out the money and your friend out the spa service. If you are unsure of the spa and you still would like your friend to go to that particular spa, then give them an American Express or Visa gift card that way they can use it for the spa. And in the event the spa closes they can select another spa of their choice.
Please remind your friend that a gift certificate is cash, if you lose it there may be no recourse.

PS. If you give a spa gift certificate, please give the person additional money to cover the tip if you purchase a specific service. People should not have to spend more money in order to redeem a gift.

For more spa tips see http://www.spavelous.com

ehammell said

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on 5/10/2007 When you receive a gift certificate, tell the person who gave it to you what you bought and that you think of them when you use it/see it. This lets them know that you don't look at the gift as the impersonal gift card but instead as a useful item. It also lets them know you used the card- many gift cards go unused.

Anonymous said

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on 12/16/2005 When you give someone a gift certificate, either hang onto the receipt yourself (and let them know you have it) or just give it to them along with the receipt. Twice now a gift certificate I have been given was never charged properly (computer glitches are very common) and at both locations I was treated like a criminal and my friends were accused of stealing because I did not have that receipt.

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 Make sure that your recipient shops online before you give him or her an online gift certificate. Many people still do not feel comfortable giving out personal or credit card information online, thus rendering your gift useless to them.

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